36 
PESTS AND DISEASES. 
Visit to Laboratories. 
the occasion of the visit to the Offices of the Department of 
Agriculture on the 26th April, an inspection was made of the 
laboratories, a description of which is given below : 
Mycological Laboratory. 
A number of specimens of diseases had been prepared and 
arranged by Mr. W. N. C. Belgrave (Acting Mycologist) and 
Mr. F. de la Mare Norris (Assistant Agricultural Inspector) the 
exhibits, in addition to specimens of parasitic fungi, included several 
of the common saprophytes, e.g., several Xylaria sp., often found 
on decaying timber. 
Among the parasitic fungi, there were specimens of pink disease 
in all its stages, die-back (Dijilodia), thread-blight, Ustulina zonata, 
including all the different forms of fructification, Poria, Fomes, 
including a very fine resupinate fructification, brown root disease, 
Sphserostilhe repe?i8, and black stripe canker. Particularly interest- 
ing was a specimen of an old tree attacked by “ black stripe ” into 
which the disease had penetrated to a depth of six inches. 
Visitors were also shown pure cultures of most of the above 
fungi, and the method of making them. 
Entomological Laboratory. 
Exhibits prepared by Mr. P. B. Richards (Acting Entomologist) 
and Mr. C. B. Holman-Hunt (Systematic Entomologist) illustrated 
the common pests of cultivated plants in Malaya, the different stages 
in the life histories of the more important insects being displayed. 
The classification of the white ants was illustrated by a series of 
microscope preparations, while the structure of the nest, the social 
organization and the habits of the white ant of rubber, Termes 
gestroi , were demonstrated in some detail. 
From the general insect collection cases were prepared to 
illustrate the classification of the Insecta, and considerable interest 
was shown in an exhibit of curious and rare insects, 
